ODI World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson Ruled Out; Tom Blundell Called In As Cover
New Delhi: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is ruled out of the few matches of ODI World Cup 2023 said New Zealand Cricket on Saturday. Tom Blundell has been named his replacement for the marquee event.
Williamson has just played one match of the ODI World Cup 2023 where he got injured.
“Williamson will remain in the BLACKCAPS ICC Cricket World Cup squad with the aim of being available for the back end of pool play next month,” said New Zealand Cricket in a press release.
Williamson, playing his first match of the World Cup here on Friday, having recovered from a surgery to treat a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, scored 78 as the Kiwis made light of the 246-run target and defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets.
An X-ray has confirmed an undisplaced fracture to Kane Williamson’s left thumb.
He will remain in the @cricketworldcup squad with the aim of being available for the back end of pool play next month.
Tom Blundell will travel to India as cover. #CWC23 https://t.co/5CjHG0FV9h
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 14, 2023
Williamson was out for five months, having suffered the ACL injury during IPL 2023. The skipper came at a time when New Zealand had lost opener Rachin Ravindra for 9 and he then built a strong 80-run partnership with Devon Conway to lay the platform for the Kiwi win.
The New Zealand dressing room, however, was not happy to see an exhausted Williamson walking back retired hurt after attempting a flashy drive. This was after he had taken a blow to his left thumb. New Zealand, by then, had done enough to ensure victory. This was the Kiwis’ third win in as many matches, completing the chase of 246 with plenty to spare.
Now that Kane Williamson is set to miss a couple of games, Tom Latham will once again be taking the captain’s role. He led his team to dominant wins over England and Netherlands. New Zealand’s next game will be up against Afghanistan at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, on October 18.